The half-time shuffle is one of the most essential rhythms every drummer should know. You can hear it on various songs from R&B to rock, fusion, and pop music. Here’s a collection of half-time shuffle grooves.
The master of this groove is Bernard Purdie, whose work with Steely Dan is remarkable. John Bonham would adopt his incredible feel on “Fool in the Rain” and Jeff Porcaro created a compromise between John Bonham and Bernard Purdie’s groove with the Rosanna Shuffle, on the famous tune “Rosanna” by Toto. Check out the amazing Bernard Purdie!
Below there’s a list of songs using this groove. To know more, I recommend the book The Commandments of the Half-Time Shuffle by Zoro.
- Al Jarreau – Mornin’ youtube.com/watch?v=Ld8ICOf8Crs
- Death Cab for Cutie – Grapevine Fires youtube.com/watch?v=gQEi6HU3E0M
- Ed Motta – Samurai youtube.com/watch?v=jGufl0-h1WM
- Led Zeppelin – Fool in the Rain youtube.com/watch?v=d52M5M6OOXs
- Paul Simon – Oh, Marion youtube.com/watch?v=Srvj6cBhDAs
- Ray Charles – Sweet Potato Pie youtube.com/watch?v=tvEcQoMEvNQ
- Steely Dan – Babylon Sisters youtube.com/watch?v=pAuPMJlK92s
- Steely Dan – Home at Last youtube.com/watch?v=cGMjGaiIxtY
- Toto – Rosanna youtube.com/watch?v=BvB08PoUlIc
- Toto – These Chains youtube.com/watch?v=4CHHQVfgZ0k
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